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Questions in Jamaica Patois (Poems): Now Available for Pre-Order

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 Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you had a wonderful time connecting with your families and friends. I am so excited to share that my latest poetry collection, Questions in Jamaican Patois , is now available for pre-order from the Finishing Line Press website. As always, thanks for your support!

Vacation Update and Writing Successes

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 Dear Poets of the Caribbean readers and subscribers, I hope your summer has been amazing, and that you managed to get a lot of summer reading in - whether it was by the beach, on a plane, a cruise, train or bus. Do share what you have been reading! My summer has been great and I had an enjoyable family reunion in Toronto, Canada. Here is a picture of me trying to hold up the CN Tower. Lol! I want to share some very good news about some writing successes that I have had this year. The first relates to poetry publication. My chapbook manuscript, Questions in Jamaican Patois , has been accepted for publication by Finishing Line Press , and will be out later this fall. I will share the book link as soon as it is available. Thanks in advance for your support, whether it is to purchase a copy, post the link on your blog or other social media accounts, or to write a review. More news on this soon. My second writing success, while in the academic realm, is nevertheless exciting too. Thanks to

For National Poetry Month, Enjoy "Dis Poem" by Mutabaruka

Dis Poem By Mutabaruka dis poem shall speak of the wretched sea that washed ships to these shores of mothers cryin for their young swallowed up by the sea dis poem shall say nothing new dis poem shall speak of time time unlimited time undefined dis poem shall call names names like lumumba, kenyatta, nkrumah hannibal, akenaton, malcolm, garvey haile selassie dis poem is vexed about apartheid racism fascism the klu klux klan riots in brixton atlanta jim jones dis poem is revoltin against 1st world 2nd world 3rd world division man made decision dis poem is like all the rest dis poem will not be amongst great literary works will not be recited by poetry enthusiasts will not be quoted by politicians nor men of religion dis poem is knives bombs guns blood fire blazin for freedom yes dis poem is a drum ashanti mau mau ibo yoruba nyahbingi warriors uhuru uhuru uhuru namibia uhuru soweto uhuru afrika dis poem will not change things dis poem needs to be changed dis poem is a rebirth of a people

2023 Bocas Lit Festival

It's that time again - the annual Bocas Lit Festival will take place from Friday, April 28th through to Sunday, April 30th in Trinidad & Tobago.  Check out this year's program . There is also a children's program . The following poets have their works included this year in the nine long-listed books for the 2023 OCM Bocas Prize: Michael Fraser's The Day-Breakers (published by Biblioasis ) Anthony Joseph's Sonnets for Albert (published by Bloomsbury ) Pamela Mordecai's de book of Joseph (published by Mawenzi House ). Sonnets for Albert won the 2022 T.S. Eliot Prize. Check out my previous post on Pamela Mordecai's two new publications, de book of Joseph and a Fierce Green Space.

Song of the Banana Man by Evan Jones

A friend shared with me this delightful reading by George Scott of the poem,   Song of the Banana  Man, written by Jamaicn poet, Evan Jones. Mr. Scott, an educator, grew up in Jamaica and later moved with his family to Hartford, Connecticut, where he started a small business. This poem brings back many memories from my primary school days in Jamaica where it was recited a lot in schools. Set in rural Jamaica in the 1940s, Song of the Banana man captures the psyche and ethos of small farmers - hardworking, salt of the earth people who look you in the eye,  tell you good morning and howdy, and will die with their dignity. Not waiting for any handouts, but proudly  toiling day in day out. I hope you enjoy the reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEOvGM-UONY

Poetry Gift Suggestion for the Holidays: Pam Mordecai's A Fierce Green Place

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As you shop for Christmas gifts, consider the gift of poetry and include Pam Mordecai's A Fierce Green Place.  Published by the New York indie publisher, New Directions, it is also available as an e-book and has been highly recommended by the California Review of Books as a gift suggestion. While you are at it, check out Pam's other recent publication, de book of Joseph, which is so appropriate for the holidays. Written in the Jamaican dialect, it was published by Canadian indie publisher, Mawenzi House, and is her imagined story of Joseph's life. It is also available as an e-book. Here are the links to purchase information on Pam's publications:   https://www.ndbooks.com/book/a-fierce-green-place/  and   mawenzihouse.com/product/de-book-of-joseph/   I hope you will share these great reads with friends, family, and colleagues and leave some reviews. Happy holidays, and best wishes for 2023!

Ode to Toni Morrison (and Collected Poems) by Jennifer Brown Banks

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Happy National Poetry Month, 2022! I hope that you are enjoying poetry from all around the world. In this post, I am highlighting Ode to Toni Morrison (and collected poems...) by Jennifer Brown Banks. I just purchased Jennifer's collection, and it is truly a gem. Jennifer's collection is available for purchase on  Amazon . I hope you will share your feedback. Jennifer is the creator of the award-winning blog for writers, Pen and Prosper . In her latest collection, she writes from the heart about parenting, family (in particular, the mother-child relationship), love, friendship, the Covid-19 pandemic, race, senseless violence within Black communities, among other themes. Jennifer's poems make us laugh out loud, reflect, and ponder our own emotions on the topics in the collection. Some of my favorites are:  Silly (Circa 2005) Sundays at Mom's Place Ode to Toni Morrison (1931-2019) In the Movies On Our Watch For Strangers Who Love Books Parenting is Like Baking a Cake For